Electric switch



2 Sheets-Sheet l i-gg 5'/ w. s. EDSALL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec.

#a vf/ Jan. 20, 1931.

u about, together with means so arranged that Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE WILLIAM S. EDSALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION7 OF BOSTON, MAS- SACHUSETTS A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed December 2o, 1923. serial No. 681,852.

This invention relates to cell type electric oil switches.

There are certain types of cell type switches, as .ic-supported switches, which are supported by their frames within and in elevatcf` position above the bottoni'wall or ioor of the cell so that the oil receptacle may be lowered to a position clear of the switch, and removed from the cell when desired. F or electric switches of relatively large capacity, the weight i the oil receptacle is or may be considerable and, by reason ,of the weight and space limitations, it is often diilicnlt to raise and lower the heavy receptacle. After the receptacle has been lowered to rest upon the floor ci' the cell, it is or may be diliicnlt, also. to vwithdraw the receptacle ltrom the cell by reason oit the frictional contact between the receptacle and the cell floor.

An object of this i .vent-ion is the provision ot' an electric swi ,ch of the type above set forth with an cil receptacle so arranged that, after it has been lowercdto the {ioor of 'the cell.` it may readily be withdrawn; and the specific manner in which l accomplish this result by provi ing the receptacle with wheels, on which wheels the receptacle is adapted to rest when on the Hoor ot the cell whereby the receptacle may be vithdrawn easily from the cell.

il inrther object of the inventionA is the association with the cell ot raising and lowering means for the oil receptacle of the ch contained therein.

A. vet tin-ther object of the invention yis the association et the raising; and lowering means with a plurality olf switches so arranged that the raising;` and lowering; inc-ans may be operatively connected with or discoiniect rom iy of the sw l with which i associated.whereby the receptacles ot all of the s hes may bc raised or lowered simultaneously or the receptacle of but selected switch may be raised or lowered.

A 'further object of the invention is the provision ot a cell and an electric .witch h aving` wheels upon which it may m inove Lau when the switch is in proper position Within the cell it will be supported by the upper part, or trarne, thereof in elevated position above the floor of the cell.

A further object ofthe invention is generallyto improve the construction and operation ot electric switches.

F ig. lis a lrcnt elevation of a cell structure, and electric switches contained therein, embodying the invention.

Finn 2 is a side elevation taken aloncY line Q-Q of Fig. l.

F ig. 3 is View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the oil receptacle on the cell floor.

Fig'. 4 is an enlarged detail illustratingr the manner of connecting a cable of the raising and lowering mechanism in an oil receptacle.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, in detail, illustrating the supporting' shelves for the switches.

Athree-compartment cell structure is herein shown associated with the invention and each compartment may contain one switch of a three-phase switching unit, although the number ot cell-compartments, or switches, is not material to this invention.

The cell structure may comprise the'two end walls l() and ll, the rear wall 12 and the bottom wall or floor 13. All walls may he made of concrete or otherwise. A top wall le may rest upon or be integral with the end and rear walls and form a top closure for the cell structure. Partition walls l5 may be disposed within-the cell structure in spaced relation with each other and with the end walls whereby to separate the interior of the cell structure into three compartments a,'b, and c, each ot which is adapted to contain an electric switch ot' the oil immersed type.

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the same height from the floor of the cells as the tops of the partition walls.

A switch with which this invention may be associated may comprise an enclosing casing including the switch frame 2O and the oil receptacle 21. The oil receptacle is or may be dependently secured to said frame and a cradle or carriage 22 may be secured to the bottom of said receptacle, on which cradle or carriage the switch-may be supported when the switch is withdrawn free from its enclosing cell. Said carriage may have wheels 23 journalled thereon, on which the receptacle, and also the switch, may be movably supported. The oil receptacle is ormay be secured removably and yieldingly to the switch frame by means including the rods 25. Said rods may be passed through laterally extended lugs of the carriage and secured removably thereto by nuts 26 and said rods may extend* upwardly on the outside of said oil receptacle and pass loosely through lugs 27 of said switch frameQO. Said lugs 27 may be recessed to receive receptacle-supporting springs 28, and nuts 29 threaded on the'upper ends of said rods may engage said springs and hold the receptacle and frame in proper yielding relation.

Stationary switch members 30 may be carried by the switch frame 20 and'extend upwardly thereabove.v Said switch members may be detachably connected electrically with fixed terminal members 31 of the circuit to be controlled by the switch. Said terminal members may be supported by insulators 32 depending from the top wall 14 of the cellstructure, although they may be otherwise arranged. Detachable connectors 33 may serve to connect the switch and terminal members electrically. Y

The switch is adapted to be supported within its cell in such an elevated position above the cell floor that the oil receptacle may be lowered onto the cell Hoor and withdrawn when desired. The switch is adapted, also, to be so supported removably in the c-ell that the spacing and alignment of the stationary switch members and fixed terminal members is constant, whereby the switch may be removed and replaced, or a substitute switch may be placed in position in the cell and connected in circuit without the necessity for any material adjustment between the switch members and circuit terminals.

T he supporting means for the switch may include a shelf 35, which shelf may have legs 36 adapted to rest upon and be supported by the vertical walls of the cell, as by resting upon the ledge 10a, or 11a, and a partition wall 15. There may be an individual shelf for each compartment, as shown, or the shelves may be integrally formed in an obvious manner. The shelf is or may be formed 0r provided with a recess 3'? in which the switch casing may be loosely received and extended in both directions beyond theshelf. rI'he shelf is or may be formed or provided with a Hat upper face 37 a upon which the peand the circuit terminals 31 is consequently substantially .invariable and the switch may be withdrawn and replaced or other similar switches substituted, and connected in circuit without substantial change of alignment between the switch members and the fixed circuit terminals. y

The upper parts of the switches may be isolated from each other, or contained in separate compartments. For this purpose, separating plates 40 may be extended vertically above the partition between the walls 15 and between the supporting shelves 35 and the top cover' wall 14 and secured to both in any suitable manner.

The oil receptacles of the switches herein illustrated may be relatively heavy and may be raised and lowered to and frame the switch frame only with difhculty. In accordance with this invention, raising and lowering mechanism is associated with the cell-structure and is arranged to be operated to raise and lower the receptacles vof all the switches contained within the cell-structure or but the receptacles of selected switches. l

The raising and lowering mechanism may include a winding shaft 42, which shaft may be disposed in the upper portion of the cell compartments, preferably in the forward portions thereof, and extended through suitable apertures in the partition plates 40. Said shaft may be supported rotatably in suitable bearings 43 from the top cover wall 14; and one end of said shaft may be extended outwardly beyond one end-wall, as the wall 11, for connection with suitable driving mechanism.

The driving mechanism may be actuated manually or by power. For this purpose the driving mechanism may include a worm gear 44 fixed to the extended end of said sha-ft 42. A drive shaft 45 may be supported in a suitable bracket 44 by the top wall 14 of the cellstructure. Said shaft 45 may carry a worm 47 which is arranged in driving engagement with the worm gear 44. Obviously, rotation of said drive shaft effects a corresponding but reduced rotation of the winding shaft. The arrangement of the worm gear and worm may be such as to hold the winding shaft against rotation when it is supporting the weight of an oil receptacle.

The drive shaft 45 may be rotated by power and for this purpose, may be actuated by an Vdetachably to receive an operating handle or cquivalent tool.

The connection between the Winding shaft and the oil receptacle may include the loops' of flexible cables 50. As here shown, two flexible cables are provided for each oil receptacle, and said cables are disposed on opposite sides of the oil receptacle. The upper ends of said cables are or may be fixed to said winding shaft in such a manner as to wind upon said shaft as the shaft is rotated. For this purpose, the cables may be fixed to the winding drums 5l, which drums are fixed to said shaft. The other ends of said cables are preferably attached to a fixed support,as vto the supporting shelves 35 by means of the eye-bolts 52.

Each pair of cables is adapted to be connected detachably with the oil receptacle of a switch. For this purpose, the supporting wheels Q3 of the oil receptacle may be formed or provided with grooved hubs about which the'cables are adapted to be passed. Said hubs, preferably, are smaller than the peripheral diameter of the wheels whereby to permit the/'cables to be passed about the hubs when the` receptacle is supported on the floor of the cell, As illustrated in Figs. 2 and the cables are passed about the hubs of the wheels of the receptacle, when the receptacle "o be raised or lowered, and in such a manner that the receptacle may be supported in thc loops formed by the cables. When the vindin shaft is rotated, and the cable loops are lengthened or shortened. as the case may be. the hubs 55 ot the wheels Q3 roll in en- ,Qagement with the cables and the receptacle is lowered or raised while maintaining, by ,Gravity its upright positionl on the cableloops. reteraloly.` guide-lugs are secured to the upper portions of' the receptacle and in which the receptacle-supporting rods 25 are slidablv received, and said rods and lugs .may cooperate to guide and steady the receptacle in its-vertical movement on said cable-loops. lVhen a receptacle is lowered to the cell floor, the cables may be detached from the wheel hubs and the receptacle may then be rolled out of the cell.

lit but the receptacle of' one switch is to be lowered, the cables associated with the receptacles of the remaining switches may hang free from and unconnected with the p ceptacle.

The structure may be otherwise modified without departing from the spirit of the inf vention.

I claim: y

1. A frame-supported electric switch comprising an enclosing casing including an Yoil receptacle and a switch frame yforming'a cover for the receptacle and having fixed ter minals extended therefrom, and means to support the receptacle beneath the switch frame, said switch frame having means to secure it in elevated position to a support, whereby to support the switch in elevated position with the receptacle depending be-v low the switch frame, a cradle attached to the bottom of and providingr a support for the receptacle and also the switchwhen it is free from the support, wheels carried by theV cradle on which wheels the switch may be moved about' when free from the support, and raising and lowering mechanism associated with said wheelsfand cradle.

Q, lThe combination of ran electric switch having an oil receptacle,`wheels on the bottom thereof by which they switch may be moved about, and raising and lo'wering mechanisms for the receptacle includingr a fiexible loop arranged Vreleasingly to engage said wheels, and on which loop the recep taci-e is adaptedftostand when being raised andA lowered` and vmeans to lengthen and shorten the loop.

3. The combination of an'electric switch having an oil receptacle, wheels on the bottoni thereof, and raising and lowering mechanisro including a pair of flexible loops 'disposed on opposite sides of said receptacle and arranged releasingly to engage said wheels and support the receptacle, and means to lengthen and shorten said loops, i

' 4. The combination ot an electric switch having an oil receptacle, two pair of wheels f Journalled on the receptacle at opposite sides thereof, and raising and lowering mechanism including ay pair of flexible loops disposed on opposite sides of said receptacle, each loop adapted to be passed about a pair of' wheels, whereby to support the receptacle for raising and lowering, and means to shorten and lengthen the loops.

5. The combination of an electric switch having an oil receptacle, two pair of wheels journalled on the bottom portion of the receptacle and at opposite sides thereof, and raising and lowering` mechanism including a pair of flexible loops disposed on opposite sides of said receptacle, cach loop arranged to be passed about a pair of wheels, and said receptacle arranged to stand upon and be supported by said. loop for the raising and lowering of the receptacle, and means to shorten. and lengthen the loops.

6. The combination of an electric switch having an oil-receptacle and supporting wheels on the bottom of the receptacle, said wheels having peripheries adapted for. en-

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gagement with a supporting surface and also having reduced cable-engaging peripheral portions, and raising and lowering mechanism including a pair of flexible cables disposed in loops on opposite sides of the receptacle and arranged to be passed about the reduced peripheral portions of said wheels and support the receptacle for raising and lowering, and means to slierten and lengthen the loops, whereby to raise and lower the receptacle.

7. The combination of a supportingstructure for a .plurality of electric switches, and raising and lowering mechanism for the oil receptacles of the switches including an elevated winding shaft for all switches carried by said supporting structure above the switches, and flexible raising and lowering means for each switch actuated by said winding shaft and having provision for detachable engagement with the receptacle of its switch. Y

8. The combination of a supporting structure for a plurality of independent removable-unit electric switches having oil receptacles, and raising and lowering mechanism for the oil receptacles of the switches including an elevated winding shaft carried'by said supporting structure, above and extended between said switches, and flexible raising and lowering means actuated by said winding shaft and disposed thereon adjacent each switch and having provision for detachable engagement with theV receptacle .of its switch, and driving means for said winding shaft.

9. The combination of a supporting structure for a removable-unit electric switch having switch supporting means intermediate its height, an electric switch received removably within said supporting structure and having a switch frame and a depending oil receptacle removably secured thereto and having its switch frame supported by said supporting means, a winding shaft supported rotatably by said supporting structure above and entirely independent of said switch whereby to permit removal of said switch independently of said shaft, flexible cables carried by said shaft and arranged to wind thereon, said cables disposed in loop-form on opposite sides of said receptacle and having their free ends fixedly secured, and said receptacle having a pair of wheels which are arranged to engage detachably each loop and support the receptacle in stable upright position on and mainly above the cables as they are operated.

10. The combination yof a cell-structure having vertical walls forming a plurality of cell-compartments each arranged to receive an electric switch, the switch having a supporting frame and an oil receptacle removably depending therefrom, a winding shaft traversing the upper forward portions of said cell-compartments above the switch, and a pair of flexible cables carried by said winding shaft and arranged in each cell-compartment, said cables arranged to wind upon said winding shaft and having their free ends lixedly secured to hang in loops on opposite sides of the oil receptacles.

ll. The-combination of acell-structnre having vertical walls forming a plurality of cellcompartments each adapted to receive an electric switch, said switch having a supporting frame and an oil receptacle removably depending therefrom, a winding shaft extended through said vertical walls and the upper forward portions of said cell-compartments above the switches, a pair of iiexible cables disposed in each compartment and carried by said winding shaft and connected therewith to wind thereupon, and having their free ends secured to said cell-structure in the rear portion of said cell-compartments whereby to hang in spaced loops and on opposite sides of the oil receptacle.

12. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame and a removable depending oil receptacle, raising and lowering means for said receptacle, including a pair of cable-loops disposed on opposite sides of the receptacle, one side of each loop being relatively anchored with respect to the other side, and a pair of wheels disposed at the bottom and on opposite sides of said receptacle, the wheels of each pair being on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the receptacle and each pair ofwheels on the same side arranged to rest freely upon and roll in engagementl with a cable-loop, the receptacle adapted to stand vertically on said loops while being raised and lowered. n

13. The combination of a supporting structure, a plurality of electric switches supported and in elevated positions thereon and having receptacles depending therebelow, a raising and lowering mechanism for the receptacles of said switches carried by said structure independently of said switches including an operating shaft which extends along and is common to all of said switches, an operating mechanism for said shaft, and means permanently located at each switch selectively connecting the receptacle of any one of said switches independently of all others of said switches with said operating shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM S. EDSALL. 

